Fluid propelling apparatus employing flexible drive shaft

ABSTRACT

Apparatus including a propeller rotatably fixed in a thrust bearing at one end of a flexible shaft inside an open-ended flexible hose, the propeller being driven by a prime mover coupled to the other end of the flexible shaft.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,885,885 Cross, Jr. May 27, 1975 [54] FLUID PROPELLING APPARATUS 1788,1911 4/1957 Anderson 415/122 EMPLOYING FLEXIBLE DRIVE SHAFT a er 2.. Inventor: Fred Cross, J Eustis. 3.785752 1/1974 Crespo 64/2 R [73] Assignee: Highway Equipment & Supply FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Company, Orlando F121 504,047 7/1930 Germany 415/122 41 L369 6/1934 United Kingdom 4l5/l22 7 1973 538658 8/1941 United Kingdom 415/122 [21] Appl. N0.: 402,147

Primary ExaminerWilliam L. Freeh Assistant Examiner-G. P. L21 Pointe 2 5 3 g 5 i Attorney, Agent, or F1rmDuckworth, Hobby & Allen 58 Field of Search 64/2 R, 3; 415/122, 131; l 1 7/321, 424 [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus including a prope1ler rotatably fixed in a 5 References Cited thrust hearing at one end of a flexible shaft inside an UNITED STATES PATENTS open-ended flexible hose, the propeller being driven l 68 5 10/1928 B k 5/ by a prime mover coupled to the other end .of the flexur s 2,643,615 6/1953 Murphy 415/206 Shaft 2,749.846 6/1956 Karrer 64/3 5 Claims. 4 Drawing Figures FLUID PROPELLING APPARATUS EMPLOYING FLEXIBLE DRIVE SHAFT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to fluid handling apparatus, and in particular to fluid handling apparatus driven by a flexible shaft.

2. Description of the Prior Art Flexible shafts are employed in a wide variety of applications. By way of example, flexible drive shafts have been adapted to well drilling and pumping equipment, as disclosed in US. pat. No. 3,347,169 to Cronin, et al.; and US. Pat. No. 3,234,723 to Brown. Other, diverse uses for flexible shafts include the following, as disclosed in the related US. patent disclosed therewith: concrete vibrators (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,180,625 and 2,598,895); tube and tank cleaners (U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,090,174 and 2,332,940); electric drill extensions (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,377,888 and 2,747,384); dental and shoe polishers (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,472,045 and 1,415,689); ratchet wrenches (U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,584); water meters (U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,849); and window washers (U.S. Pat. No. 3,138,815).

Bolozky, et al., in US. Pat. No. 1,636,038 teach a fan having a blade driven by a flexible shaft extending through lengths of rigid sections of tubing. In US. Pat. No. 1,606,142 Burrell discloses a fan arrangement driven by a flexible shaft and employed in a centrifugal oil burner.

Various fluid propelling techniques are also disclosed in the prior art. One arrangement develops a vacuum to allow atmosphere pressure to push fluid up a column. Many pumping techniques require priming, or the positioning of the prime mover in the fluid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION tated by a prime mover located at the other end thereof.

THE DRAWING FIG. I is a side view of the apparatus of the present invention, with portions of the apparatus in cross section.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of the alternate embodiment of the arrangement of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view, in cross section, of the hose and flexible shaft portions of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in cross section, of the propeller head portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Fluid propelling apparatus employing a flexible drive shaft in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 and described with reference thereto. The overall apparatus, referred to generally as 10, includes a prime mover 12 which suitably comprises a gasoline or electric motor. A flexible shaft 14 is fitted to the drive of the prime mover 12. As shown in cross section in FIG. 3, the flexible shaft 14 includes an outer, watertight casing 16 and a flexible core 18 which may, for example, comprise oppositely wound layers of cable. The core 18 is separated from the casing 16 by a lubricating layer 19, such as grease. Various techniques are employed for manufacturing flexible drive shafts, and a variety of such shafts may be employed as the core 18.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the water-tight flexible shaft 14 extends through a flexible hose 20, one end 22 of whi.'h is proximal to the prime mover 12. The outer diameter of the water-tight casing 16 of the flexible shaft 14 is substantially less than the inner diameter of the flexible hosing 20.

Noting FIGS. 1 and 4, a propeller 24 is rotatably fixed with the flexible core 18 of the flexible shaft 14 at the other end 26 of the flexible hose 20. A nipple 28 surrounds the propeller 24 and extends into the outer end 26 of the flexible hosing 20. The nipple 28 has an opening 30 therethrough axial with the propeller 24 and the extremity of the flexible core 18. A first spider 32 positioned between the inner surface of the nipple 28 and the extremity of the water-tight casing 16 of the flexible shaft 14 assists in maintaining the propeller 24 in proper position. As shown in FIG. 4, a second spider 33 is positioned at the extremity of the flexible core 18, and an adjustable thrustbearing member 35 is fitted to the spider 33 through a threaded hole 37 in the second spider. The thrust bearing member 35 includes a rear thrust nearing aperture 39 facing the propeller 24 for receifing a conical thrust bearing 43 on the end of the flexible core 18. A strainer 34 is joined to the nipple 28 over the opening 30, and'is fitted by threads 40 about the outer extremity of the nipple 28. A strap 42 holds the casing 28 firmly in the hosing 20. A grease seal 44 is fitted at the end of the flexible casing 16 to contain the lubricating layer 19 and keep the pumped liquid out.

As shown in the alternate embodiment of FIG. 2, the flexible hosing 20 at the one end 22 may be closed to form a loose fit around the flexible shaft 14. Additionally, an auxiliary output hose 36 may be joined to the flexible hose 20.

During operation of the apparatus 10, the propeller heat; i.e. the nipple 28 and propeller 24, is inserted into a fluid body, such as the fluid filled container 38 in FIG. 1. When the prime mover 12 is energized, the flexible shaft 14 rotates the propeller 24, causing the fluid to be drawn into the casing 28. The propeller 24 thereafter pushes the fluid up the flexible housing 20. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the fluid exits via the auxiliary hosing 36.

The apparatus of the present invention has several advantages with respect to prior art fluid pumping means. For example, the above described apparatus does not employ a vacuum principle, and thus is not susceptible to priming difficulties and operates irrespective of leaks in the hose through which the fluid passes. Further, the flexible shaft-propeller combination allows fluids to be drawn out of areas where prior art pump arrangements cannot be positioned. In addition present apparatus employs no valves, and the prin .over is positioned out of the fluid as opposed to i: j y prior art pump arrangements which require the prime mover to be submerged in fluid.

Another advantage of the pump arrangement of the present invention is found in the stock materials from which the pump may be fabricated. All of the major components of the pump are generally available in various sizes at any equipment supply outlet. For example, the flexible hosing may comprise standard rubber or PVC tubing and the flexible core 18 and casing 16 are also available in standard sizes. The rigid casing may comprise a fitting commonly referred to in the hardware industry as the King Combination Nipple, and is available from a variety of manufacturers in standard sizes ranging from three-fourths to 8 inches. As noted previously, the prime mover 12 may comprise any standard electric or gasoline engine.

I claim: 1. Apparatus comprising, in combination: a flexible, hollow hose having two open ends; a propeller at one end of said hollow member for pro pelling fluid therethrough; prime moving means at the other end of said hollow member and spaced therefrom; an outer, water-tight casing having an outer diameter substantially less than the inner diameter of said hose; a flexible core positioned within said flexible casing; a nipple surrounding said propeller and including an opening axial with said propeller; a spider fixed in said nipple for positioning said flexible core in said flexible casing at said one end of said hose;

another spider positioned at the extremity of said nipple opening and having a threaded opening through said another spider axial with said propeller and the extremity of said flexible core;

a threaded thrust bearing member adjustably positioned in said threaded opening, said thrust bearing member including a thrust aperture facing said propeller; and

a conical thrust bearing fixed at the extremity of said flexible core and extending into said thrust aperture.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a lubricating layer betwwen said casing and said core.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 further comprising a grease seal at the extremity of said casing proximal to said one end of said hose for containing said lubricating layer.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising straining means over said opening in said casing.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

said hose at said other end being fitted about said flexible shaft; and

an auxiliary hose joined to said flexible hose proximal to said other end. 

1. Apparatus comprising, in combination: a flexible, hollow hose having two open ends; a propeller at one end of said hollow member for propelling fluid therethrough; prime moving means at the other end of said hollow member and spaced therefrom; an outer, water-tight casing having an outer diameter substantially less than the inner diameter of said hose; a flexible core positioned within said flexible casing; a nipple surrounding said propeller and including an opening axial with said propeller; a spider fixed in said nipple for positioning said flexible core in said flexible casing at said one end of said hose; another spider positioned at the extremity of said nipple opening and having a threaded opening through said another spider axial with said propeller and the extremity of said flexible core; a threaded thrust bearing member adjustably positioned in said threaded opening, said thrust bearing member including a thrust aperture facing said propeller; and a conical thrust bearing fixed at the extremity of said flexible core and extending into said thrust aperture.
 2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a lubricating layer betwwen said casing and said core.
 3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 further comprising a grease seal at the extremity of said casing proximal to said one end of said hose for containing said lubricating layer.
 4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising straining means over said opening in said casing.
 5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising: said hose at said other end being fitted about said flexible shaft; and an auxiliary hose joined to said flexible hose proximal to said other end. 